Higher Tier

Grade

Decimals, Place value and Rounding

Estimate answers to calculations involving division

Multiply two decimals such as 24 07

Estimate answers to calculations

Find minimum and maximum values

Understand the effects of multiplying by numbers between 0 and 1

Divide a number by a decimal such as 1 02 and 28 divided by 007

Recognise accuracy in measurements given to the nearest whole unit

Round to a given number of significant figures

Find the upper and lower bounds of simple calculations (addition and subtraction) involving
quantities given to a particular degree of accuracy

Find the upper and lower bounds of more difficult calculations with quantities given to a
various degrees of accuracy

A*

Find the upper and lower bounds of more difficult calculations with quantities given to a
various degrees of accuracy

Grade

Fractions

Do calculations with simple fractions involving subtraction

Do calculations with mixed numbers

Do calculations with simple fractions involving division

Grade

Percentages

Increase or decrease a quantity by a given percentage

Work out a percentage increase or decrease

Express one quantity as a percentage of another

Work out reverse percentage problems

B
B

Understand how to use successive percentages

Work out compound interest

Grade
D

FDP, Ratio and Proportion

C
B

Convert recurring decimals to fractions and fractions to recurring decimals

Identify recurring and terminating decimals

Calculate proportional changes using a multiplier

Solve direct and inverse proportion problems

Interpret the graphs of direct and inverse proportion relationships

Grade

Convert decimals to fractions and fractions to decimals

Solve more complex ratio and proportion problems, such as sharing out money between two
groups in the ratio of their numbers
Solve ratio and proportion problems using the unitary method

Powers, Indices, Standard Form and Surds

Use the terms square, positive and negative square root, cube and cube root

Recall integer squares from 22 to 1515 and the corresponding square roots

Recall the cubes of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10

Use index notation and index laws for positive and negative powers

Convert between ordinary and standard index form representations

Use standard index form with and without a calculator

Rationalise the denominator of a surd such as

Use index notation and index laws for simple fractional powers such as

2
5

16

1
4

Use index notation and index laws for simple negative powers such as 2 -3

A*

Simplify surds, such as 4(3 + 3) and (2 - 3)(4 + 3) in the form a + b3

A*

Use index notation and index laws for fractional powers e.g.

16 4
Grade

Properties of Number

Find the least common multiple (LCM) of two simple numbers

Find the highest common factor (HCF) of two simple numbers

Write a number as a product of prime factors

Find the reciprocal of a number

Find the least common multiple (LCM) of two or more numbers

Find the highest common factor (HCF) of two or more numbers

Grade
C

Grade

Calculations and Negative Numbers

Solve numerical problems involving multiplication and division with numbers of any size using a
calculator efficiently and appropriately

Expressions, Equations and Formulae

x
2

Multiply out expressions

9 with brackets such as 5(3x 2)

Factorise expressions

Solve linear equations with unknowns on each side such as 3x 4 = 5 + x

Solve linear equations with brackets such as 2(5x + 1) = 28

Substitute numbers into more

complicated formulae such as

Multiply out expressions with brackets such as y(3y 8)

Expand and simplify two expressions of the form (x + n)

Solve more complex linear equations such as 3x 12 = 2(x 5)

( A 1) D
9

Solve linear equations involving fractions such as

C

2 xor x

5
3
4

7x
2
3

Find a solution to a problem by forming an equation and solving it

Form and solve equations such as x3 + x = 12 using trial and improvement methods

Rearrange linear formulae such as s = 4q - 7

Solve inequalities such as 3x < 9 and 12 3n < 20

Solve linear inequalities such as 4x 3 < 10 and 4x < 2x + 7

Represent sets of solutions on the number line

Solve fractional linear equations such as

2x 1 x 3 5

6
3
2
Expand and simplify two expressions of the form (x n)

Factorise quadratic expressions

Simplify rational expressions involving quadratic expressions

Grade

Expressions, Equations and Formulae Continued

Solve quadratic equations such as x2+ 6x+ 8=0 by factorisation

Rearrange formulae that include brackets, fractions and square roots

Solve more complex linear inequalities such as x + 13 > 5x 3

Solve a pair of simultaneous equations in two unknowns such as 2x+y=5 and 3x+2y = 4

Factorise harder quadratic expressions (a > 1)

Rearrange formulae where the variable appears twice

Solve quadratic equations (a=1) such as x2 -3x + 5 = 0 by using the quadratic formula

Solve a pair of simultaneous equations where one is linear and one is non-linear such as y = 3x
5 and y = x2

A*

Simplify harder rational expressions

A*

Solve fractional linear equations with the unknown

4

in the denominator such as

A*

Solve harder quadratic equations (a1) such as 5x2 -3x + 5 = 0 by using the quadratic formula

A*

Simplify quadratic expressions by completing the square

A*

Use completing the square to solve quadratic equations

A*

Use completing the square to find maximum and minimum values

A*

Solve a pair of simultaneous equations where one is linear and one is non-linear such as x + 4y
= 15 and x2 + y2 = 9

Grade

x 2

3
2
2x 1

Sequences

Write the terms of a sequence or a series of diagrams given the nth term

Write the nth term of a sequence or a series of diagrams

Grade

Graphs

Draw lines such as y = 2x + 3

Solve problems involving straight lines

Solve problems involving graphs, such as finding where the line y = x + 5 crosses the line y = 1

Draw graphs of simple quadratic functions such as y = 2x2 and y = x2 + 2

Recognise the equations of straight-line graphs such as y = 3x - 5

Find the gradients of straight-line graphs

Draw graphs of harder quadratic functions such as y = x2 + 3x -5

Find the points of intersection of quadratic graphs with lines

Use graphs to find the approximate solutions of quadratic equations

Explore the gradients of parallel straight-line graphs

Solve a set of linear inequalities in 2 variables by representing the solution as a region on a graph

Know that each equation can be represented by a line on a graph and that the point of
intersection of the lines is the solution

Complete tables for, and draw graphs of cubic functions

Use cubic graphs to solve equations

Complete tables for, and draw graphs of reciprocal functions

Use reciprocal graphs to solve equations

Explore the gradients of perpendicular straight-line graphs

Use the points of intersection of a quadratic graph such as y = x 2 - 2x - 4 with lines such as y =
2x + 1 to solve equations like x2 - 2x 4 = 2x + 1 and simplify this to x2 - 4x 5 = 0

Construct the graphs of loci, including the circle x2 + y2 = r2

Solve simultaneous equations graphically, such as y = x 1 and x2 + y2 = 9

A*

Solve cubic equations by drawing appropriate lines on graphs

A*

Plot and sketch graphs of exponential functions

A*

Recognise the shapes of graphs of functions

A*

Transform the graphs of y = f(x), such as linear, quadratic, cubic, sine and cosine functions, using
the transformations y = f(x) + a, y = f(x + a), y = f (ax) and y = af(x)

A*

Solve simultaneous equations graphically, such as y = 2x 1 and x2 + y2 = 13

Grade

Perimeter, Area and Volume

Find the area of a triangle, parallelogram, kite and trapezium

Find the area and perimeter of compound shapes

Calculate the circumference of a circle to an appropriate degree of accuracy

Calculate the area of a circle to an appropriate degree of accuracy

Solve problems involving circles such as finding the perimeter of a semicircle

Solve problems involving circles such as finding the area of a semicircle

Calculate volumes of triangular prisms, parallelogram-based prisms and cylinders

Solve problems involving surface areas of prisms and cylinders

Convert between measures of area

Convert between measures of volume

Distinguish between formulae for perimeter, area and volume by considering dimensions

A
A
A

Calculate the lengths of circular arcs

Calculate the areas of sectors
Calculate the surface areas of cylinders, cones and spheres

Calculate the volumes of cylinders, cones and spheres

Compare areas and volumes of enlarged shapes

Find the area of a 2-D shape, given the area of a similar shape and the ratio

Find the volume of a 3-D solid, given the volume of a similar solid and the ratio

A*

Find the volume of the frustum of a truncated cone

Grade

Angles

Solve problems using angle and symmetry properties of polygons and properties of intersecting
and parallel lines
Calculate exterior and interior angles of a regular polygon

Use Pythagoras theorem to find the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle

C
C

Use Pythagoras theorem to find any side of a right-angled triangle

Use Pythagoras theorem to find the height of an isosceles triangle

Use Pythagoras theorem in practical problems

Use the angle properties of a circle

Use the tangent / chord properties of a circle

Find the distance between two points from their coordinates

Use sine, cosine and tangent to calculate an angle in a right-angled triangle

Use sine, cosine and tangent to calculate a side in a right-angled triangle

Prove the angle properties of a circle

Prove the tangent / chord properties of a circle

Use and prove the alternate segment theorem

Add, subtract and multiply vectors to solve vector geometry problems

Understand the relationship between parallel and perpendicular vectors

Use Pythagoras theorem in 3-D problems

Sketch and draw trigonometric graphs

Use the sine rule to find the missing sides and missing angles in any triangle

Use the cosine rule to find the missing sides and missing angles in any triangle

Use the formula for the area of a non right-angled triangle

A*

Use trigonometry to find sides and angles in three dimensions

A*

Find the angle between a line and a plane

A*

Understand the graphs of trigonometric functions for angles of any size

A*

Solve more difficult vector geometry problems

Grade

Properties of Shapes & Objects and Construction

Draw a quadrilateral such as a kite or a parallelogram with given measurements

Understand that the lengths of two sides & a non-included angle do not define a unique triangle

Construct and recognise the nets of 3-D solids such as pyramids and triangular prisms

D
D

Draw plans and elevations of 3-D solids

Understand the idea of a locus

Classify a quadrilateral by geometric properties

Find the midpoint of a line segment

C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
B
A
A

Use and understand coordinates in three dimensions

Construct the perpendicular bisector of a line
Construct the perpendicular from a point to a line
Construct the perpendicular from a point on a line
Construct angles of 60 and 90
Construct the bisector of an angle
Match one side and one angle of congruent triangles, given some dimensions
Construct accurately loci, such as those of points equidistant from two fixed points
Solve loci problems, such as identifying points less than 3 cm from a point P
Match sides and angles of similar triangles, given some dimensions
Prove that two triangles are congruent
Prove the construction theorems

Use the conditions for congruent triangles in formal geometric proofs

Grade
D
C

Speed, Distance, Time

Calculate simple average speeds from distancetime graphs
Solve more difficult speed problems

Understand and use compound measures such as speed and density

Calculate complex average speeds from distancetime graphs

Interpret velocitytime graphs

Discuss and interpret graphs modelling real situations

Grade

Transformations

Reflect shapes in lines such as x = 2 or y = 1

D
D
D
D
D
C
C
C
C

Rotate shapes about the origin

Describe fully reflections and rotations about the origin
Identify reflection symmetry in 3-D solids
Translate a shape using a description such as 4 units right and 3 units down
Enlarge a shape by a positive scale factor from a given centre
Reflect shapes in the lines y = x and y = x
Rotate shapes about any point
Describe fully reflections and rotations about any point
Find the centre of a rotation and describe it fully

Combine reflections and rotations

Translate a shape by a vector such as

Transform shapes by a combination of translation, reflection and rotation

C
C

Compare the area of an enlarged shape with the original shape

Enlarge a shape by a positive whole number or fractional scale factor

Enlarge a shape by a negative scale factor

Grade
D
D
D
C

Collecting Data and Sampling

Classify and know the difference between various types of data
Design and use data collection sheets and questionnaires
Use a variety of different sampling methods
Identify possible sources of bias in the design and use of data collection sheets & questionnaires

C
A

Grade

Specify hypotheses and test them

Use stratified sampling methods

Constructing and Interpreting Charts and Graphs

Construct a stem-and-leaf diagram (ordered)

Construct a frequency diagram

Interpret a time series graph

Draw a scatter graph by plotting points on a graph

Interpret the scatter graph

Draw a line of best fit on the scatter graph by inspection

Construct and interpret a cumulative frequency diagram

B
B
B

Use a cumulative frequency diagram to estimate the median and interquartile range
Construct and interpret a box plot
Compare two sets of data using box plots

Construct and interpret a histogram including unequal class intervals

Grade

Averages

Calculate the mean for a frequency distribution

Find the mean for grouped data

C
C
C

Find the median class for grouped data

Find the modal class for grouped data
Use measures of average and range to compare distributions and make inferences

Grade

Probability

D
D
D
C
C
B
B
A

Use a two-way table to find a probability

Understand mutually exclusive events
Use the fact that the probabilities of mutually exclusive events add up to 1
Understand relative frequency as an estimate of probability
Use relative frequency to compare outcomes of experiments
Use relative frequency to find probabilities
Complete a tree diagram
Understand dependent and independent outcomes

Understand probabilities associated with mutually exclusive events

Use tree diagrams to find probabilities of successive independent events

A*

Draw tree diagrams and use them to find probabilities of successive dependent events